Punchboard amusement device



Oct. 23, 1951 D. COOK PUNCHBOARD AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Sept. 12, 1949INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 23, 1951 U Nl TED STATES PAT ear formon PUNCHBQABD AMUSEMENT DEVICE Donald Cook, Great Falls;-Mont..i-Application September 12, 19.49:;8erial No. 115,197

.tionsin the punch board.

I recognize that it has heretofore been known to provide such devicesemploying replaceable punch boards, however in these devices it haseither been necessary to. use punch. boards of specialconstruction or.else to have special parts or elementsassociated with such punch boardsto properly associate the award actuating mechanism therewith.

With the foregoing in mind, it is a primary object of my. invention toprovide such a device which utilizes a replaceable punch board of usualcommercially available type, and which has the contact elements ofitselectrical award actuating mechanism removably associated directlytherewith. in various changeable positions, as desired, to theendthatthe closing of circuits through any-of said contact elementswillactuate the award or article delivery mechanism. Such an arrangementwillobv iously greatly simplify the construction and'the economy .ofproduction .of such. devices. w

A further object is to provide such. a' device utilizing a plurality ofaward or. article holders, each electrically actuated to release itscontents responsive to insertion of the punch or stylus in a particularpreselected perforation in the punch board and thereafter to remain in.released position until manually reset, to the end that repeatedinsertions of the punch into a .prize winning perforation willnot resultin repeated awards.

Still further objects are: to provide a novel means for causing thearticle or award holders to 3 Claims. (01. 273-439) .Accordingly, thedrawings anddescription herein are to be considered as merelyillustrative and not as exclusive.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure. 1 represents a perspective view'ofv an amusement deviceembodying the preferred form of the invention; t

Figure .2,. an enlarged section on'the line 2+? of Figure 1, looking in.the directionof lthejarrows;

Figure 3, an enlarged .cross-section, partly broken away, on the line 33of Figure 1,.16bking in the direction of the arrows; and,

. Figure 4, an enlarged fragmentary section on the same plane as Figure2', showing a slightly modified form of theinvention.

Referring now. in detail to'the accompanying drawings, the referencecharacter Cithereinudes ignates a housing or cabinet-which may belofusualmaterial such as wood. .The rear. panel or back'of the cabinetpreferably. is .in the form of a door I, hinged to the cabinet as shown.to permit access'to'the interiorlthereof for servicing andrepairs, and.suitablemeans such,.as .a padlock l3is provided for preventing'accessfto the cabinet interior by unauthorized persons.

The front panel or face 2 of the cabinetjs formed with. a .rectangularopening I '3 .".there'- through in which.- is removablydisposed a usualpunchboard 4 having a plurality of suitably. dis- .posed perforations orbores 5 :therethroufg'h in usual manner. Small articles ofmerchandise-or small rolls or wads of paper bearingfl'siiitable printedmatter, these. being designated, generallyby the reference character 6,maybefdisp'dsed insome-of these perforations 5, while. electricaldischarge their contents responsive to energizing of 5' their respectivecircuits; and, to provide an article discharge chute arrangedfltodeliver to the exterior "of the device any articles punched from theperforations in the punch board as well as those discharged from thearticle holders.

In this application I'show and describe only the preferred embodiment ofmy .invention, simply by way of illustration of the practice of myinvention asby law required, together with but a single modificationthereof. However I recognize that my invention is capable of other anddifferent embodiments and thattheseveral details thereof may be modifiedin various ways, allwithout departing from my said invention.

contact members which may .bein the .formfiof small screws 1. may beinserted Qrthreaded into others of said perforations from therear 'faceof the punch. board 4L ,If. desired, Ithefront face oflthe .punch board4 may be. masked byfa sheet .of punchable. paper ,8 pasted or heldthereove'r' as .usual tomake impossiblethe visual ascertainment of thecontents of the various perforations,

the'paper 8 preferably having indiciathiinin registry with. thevariousperforations, as in Eigure,1-,to indicate the entrances thereto."

Any suitable means. may be provided .for. -removably. mounting the.punch board 4 irff the cabinet opening .3, the preferred meanscomprising. a rectangular marginal frame.- 19' fixedly ,securedaroundthe openin and overlapping the edges thereof on theexteriorface'of the cabinet front I, and another rectangularframe' H1sim ilarly relatedto the opening 3 interiorly ofi'the cabinet, theinterior frame It being removably secured against the rear or interiorface of the front I, as by usual wood screws II. Thus the punch board 4will be sandwiched between the two frames 9 and I and removable onlythrough the interior of the cabinet C by authorized persons.

For use in conjunction with the punch board 4 in usual manner, there isprovided a punch 21 having an operative blade or portion of conductingmaterial adapted for insertion into the various perforations 5 in usualmanner through the paper 8, where such is employed, either to expel thearticles 6 rearwardly from said perforations or to engage the contactmembers 'I disposed in various of said holes and close electricalcircuits which include said punch and contact members as hereinafterdescribed.

Positioned in the cabinet C at any suitable location above the bottomthereof are one or more movable article or award holders I4, each ofsuitable size and conformation to hold small articles or merchandise,money, printed matter and the like. Each of these holders or containersI4 is disposed for movement in any suitable man- 'ner whereby it willnormally tend to assume a position which will cause its contents to beexpelled or discharged by gravity, but is capable of assuming and beingretained in a position which will cause its contents to be retainedtherein.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention there is provided aplurality of relatively aligned holders I4 which are each pivotallysuspended from the under surface of the cabinet top, as by hinges I5,for movement about the horizontal axes defined by the pintles I6 ofthese hinges. Each of these holders is semi-cylindrical in shape, beingformed of conducting metal, and opens upwardly when in the closed orarticle retaining position shown in full lines in Figure 2.

However the hinge connection of each such holder is disposed at one sidethereof eccentric to its center of gravity so that under the influenceof gravity each such holder will normally tend to assume a downwardlyswung or depending article discharging position, as indicated in dottedlines in Figure 2.

At its free end each such holder I4 carries a catch II, preferably ofresilient conducting metal terminating in a downwardly opening hook I8to cooperate with the latch or retainer means for said holder.

In order to retain the several holders I 4 in their upwardly swung orarticle retaining position, I provide in association with each suchholder an electrically releasable latch means which may assume variousforms considering the invention from its broader aspects, as will beapparent to those skilled in the art. 1 However, I prefer to utilize theform of latch means I9 illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings,which means is in itself novel, extremely simple and economical, andpermits the device of the invention to be readily reset by unskilledpersons.

Such means comprises a link I9 of usual fusible metal which provides amechanical and electrical connection between the holder catch l1 and afixed conductor element which preferabl consists of a metal hook 29carried by a conductor bar 21, the .latter being secured to the undersurface of the cabinet top and extending parallel to the row of holdersI4. By reference to the drawings it will be seen that when the holdersI4 are swung upwardly to article retaining position against the top ofthe cabinet, separate fusible links I9 placed under tension between eachof the catches I1 and its associated hook 20, will retain said holdersin position against the action of gravity.

The energizing of said respective latch means I9 is accomplished througha series of separate electrical circuits, each including one of saidfusi ble links I9, said punch 21 and one of the contact members I in thepunch board 4, so that engagement of any one of said contact members Iby the punch 27 will close the particular circuit which includes saidcontact member and its associated fusible link I9. This will of courseresult in fusing or melting said link so that it will release itsparticular holder I4, allowing same to swing downwardly and dischargeits contents.

Thus, as clearly shown in Figure 2, the device may be electricallyconnected to any suitable source of electricity, as through a usual twowire electric cord 22 having a usual plug 23 for insertion in a usualelectric socket, as indicated in Figure 1. One branch or wire 24 of saidcord is electrically connected to the conductor bar 2I, as shown, thusit will be seen that the several hooks 20, fusible links I9 and holdersI4 are connected in parallel with this wire 24. Each of the holders I4in turn is electrically connected as by a flexible wire 25 to one of thecontact members I in the punch board. The other branch or wire 26 of thecord is connected to the electrically conducting operative portion orblade of the punch 21, so that insertion of the punch into the variouspunch board perforations 5 in usual manner will either expel thearticles 6 rearwardly from said perforations or cause the punch 2! toengage the contact members I disposed in some of the perforations.Obviously insertion of the punch into a perforation containing a contactmember I with resultant engagement therewith will close the circuitthrough said members and their respective holder I4 and fusible link I9,causing the latter to melt and release the holder to article dischargingposition. It will be noted of course that the handle of the punch 21 isinsulated from the blade or operative portion thereof, as by a coveringof insulating material as shown, in order to prevent electric shock tousers of the device.

The bottom of the cabinet C is defined by a sloping discharge chute 28which extends beneath all of the holders I4 and the punch board 4,through a discharge opening 29 in the cabinet front to dischargearticles received thereon which have been ejected either from theholders I4 or from the punch board perforations 5. Thus the singledischarge chute 28 is operatively associated with both the holders andthe punch board in a manner which contributes to the economy ofconstruction and utility of the device. It will be noted that thedimensions of the discharge opening 29 are such as will prevent manualaccess therethrough to the article holders I4 and their associatedmechanism aforementioned.

In the use of the device, which is believed to be obvious from theforegoing description, any desired articles of merchandise, printedmatter, prizes and the like may be placed in the several holders I4,access being had thereto through the rear door 2, whereupon links I9will be disposed between the several catches I8 and hooks 20 to maintainsaid holders in article retaining position. The contact members I foreachof these holders I4 will of course be threaded into variouspreselected perforations 5 in the punch board after first ejecting thearticles or usual paper rolls 6 therefrom. As thus arranged, the punchmay be inserted into various of the holes or perforations from the frontof the board 4 to either eject the articles 6 therefrom, in the mannerindicated in Figure 2, or to establish contact with the contact members7 in said preselected perforations and discharge the contents of theirrespective holders [4, both the articles 6 and the contents of theholders l4 being received on the chute 28 and being delivered to theexterior of the cabinet through the discharge opening 29.

In one of the contemplated uses for my invention, same may beadvantageously employed as a party amusement device, in which event thevarious perforations 5 of the punch board will be loaded with slips orrolls of paper 5 on which are printed instructions relative to theperformance of stunts by those discharging said slips. The holders 14also will contain similar slip of paper on which will be printed orwritten instructions for additional stunts, these preferably being theoutstanding or highlight stunts. With this arrangement, the party guestsmay take I turns operating the device and performing the respectivestunts directed thereby, to the end that considerable amusement will befurnished.

Obviously, after the contents of the holders 14 are discharged, same maybe reloaded, and the punch board 4 may be replaced by a new one asrequired, in which event the contact members I will preferably be placedin new or different perforations I to prevent users from becomingfamiliar with their locations.

In Figure 4 of the drawings I have illustrated a modified form andarrangement of electrically releasable latch means for each of theseveral holders I4, each said latch means comprising a fixedlypositioned solenoid [8' which when energized receives direct currentthrough one branch 24 of the electrical cord, the current passingthrough said solenoid and being conducted therefrom to one of thecontact members 1 by the wire 25 as shown. A movable solenoid core orplunger l8a projects from one end of the solenoid to be disposed beneaththe catch H of the holder l4 and support same in raised or articleretaining position prior to energization of the solenoid. The punch I2is connected to the other branch or wire 26 of the cord as in thepreferred embodiment, so that engagement between the punch and contactmember I will retract the core [8a. into the solenoid l8 and out oflatching engagement with the catch ll, thereby releasing the holder andpermitting same to swing downwardly to article discharging position asheretofore described.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An amusement device comprising a hollow cabinet having an openingthrough one wall thereof, a punch board replaceably disposed in saidopening and having a plurality of perforations therethrough, electricalcontact members being removably disposed in certain of saidperforations, a punch of electrically conducting material adapted forinsertion in said perforations, a plurality of article holders ofconducting material disposed in said cabinet for movement by gravityfrom a raised upright position to a tilted article discharging position,a main conducting bar extending adjacent said respective holders, andfusible links of electrical conducting material connecting said holdersto said conductor bar to normally maintain the holders in raised uprightarticle holding position, means electrically connecting each of saidarticle holders to one of said contact members, and flexible meanselectrically connecting said punch in circuit with said conductor bar,whereby engagement between said punch and one of said contact memberswill close a circuit through the fusible link and holder associated withthat particular contact member, in combination with a sloping dischargechute extending beneath said holders and said punch board to theexterior of said cabinet.

2. An amusement device comprising a hollow cabinet having an openingthrough one wall thereof, a punch board of electrical insulatingmaterial replaceably disposed in said opening and having a plurality ofperforations therehrough, electrical contact members being removablydisposed in certain of said perforations, a punch of electricallyconducting material adapted for insertion in said perforations, aplurality of article holders of conducting material disposed in saidcabinet for movement by gravity from a raised upright position to atilted article discharging position, a conducting element extendingadjacent said respective holders, and fusible links of electricalconducting material connecting said holders to said element to maintainsaid holders in raised upright position, means electrically connectingeach of said article holders to one of said contact members, andelectrical means electrically connecting said punch in circuit with saidconducting element, whereby engagement between said punch and one ofsaid contact members will close a circuit through the fusible link andholder associated with that particular contact member.

'3. .An amusement device comprising a cabinet, a punch board ofelectrical insulating material replaceably supported by said cabinet andhaving a plurality of perforations therethrough, electrical contactmembers being disposed in certain of said perforations, a punch ofelectrically conducting material adapted for insertion in saidperforations, an article holder disposed in said cabinet for movement bygravity from a raised upright article holding position to a tiltedarticle discharging position, a stationary conducting element disposedadjacent said holder, a fusible link of electrical conducting materialconnecting said holder to said element to maintain the holder in raisedupright article holding position, means electrically connecting saidfusible link in circuit with said contact member, and means electricallyconnecting said punch in circuit with said conducting element, wherebyengagement between said punch and said contact member will close thecircuit through said fusible link.

DONALD COOK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,518,845 Foley et a1. Dec. 9,1924 1,773,885 Staley Aug. 26, 1930 2,233,714 Ross Mar. 4, 19412,244,080 Rebstock June 3, 1941

